Case of Anthony Thomas ‘TJ’ Hoover II is under investigation by state and federal government officials

Case of Anthony Thomas ‘TJ’ Hoover II is under investigation by state and federal government officials

A man who had gone into cardiac arrest and been declared brain dead woke up as surgeons in his home state of Kentucky were in the middle of harvesting his organs for donation, his family has told media outlets.

As reported Thursday by both National Public Radio and the Kentucky news station WKYT, the case of Anthony Thomas “TJ” Hoover II is under investigation by state and federal government officials. Officials within the US’s organ-procurement system insist there are safeguards in place to prevent such episodes, though his family told the outlets their experience highlights a need for at least some reform.

…

WKYT reported that Rhorer only learned the full details of her brother’s surgery at the hands of Baptist and the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (Koda) in January. That’s when a former employee of Koda contacted her before sending a letter to a congressional committee that in September held a hearing scrutinizing organ-procurement organizations, NPR reported.

The letter’s author said she saw Hoover begin “thrashing” around on the operating table as well as start “crying visibly”, according to NPR.

  • BlameThePeacock@lemmy.caEnglish
    2444·
    9 months ago

    Just to be clear, they had not actually started harvesting anything.

    The nurses and doctors noticed as he was wheeled into the operating room and called it off, a bunch of them ended up in therapy over the situation.

    Someone fucked up by declaring him brain dead clearly. He does however have significant brain damage from the drug overdose that initiated the whole situation.

    • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
      434·
      9 months ago

      This article says he was considered brain dead for three years. Where are you getting your extra info from?

      This is scary either way.

      • FlowVoid@lemmy.worldEnglish
        353·
        9 months ago

        She was caring for him for three years.

        You cannot be brain dead for three years. Brain death is legal death. Once you are declared brain dead, you are officially a cadaver and won’t be going home. You are going to the morgue that day, with possibly a brief initial stop in the operating room if you’re an organ donor.

        • Lichtblitz@discuss.tchncs.de
          172·
          9 months ago

          That’s not the case (at least in Germany). Being brain dead does not replace the conscious decision on when to disable life support.

      • BlameThePeacock@lemmy.caEnglish
        11·
        9 months ago

        If you think google his name you can see a picture of him riding in a car with his sister in 2023 so he’s clearly not braindead.

    • Rookwood@lemmy.world
      940·
      9 months ago

      Seems like they must have fucked up multiple times. I’m thinking it was probably the nurses that blew the whistle on this and stopped the whole thing.